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Linux has been known to be the uber geeks choice for computing as well as being extremely difficult to use. A lot has changed since the all command line days of Linux and in this installment of Linux for regular people we will be taking a quick glimpse of gOS. gOS is a Linux distribution which is aimed for average PC users. It is based on the ever popular Ubuntu 7.10 except without the gnome desktop environment. They started to go on sale in local discount merchants such as walmart. Where you can get your self an Everex Impact for around $199.00. They would bundle the operating system with inexpensive hardware which is actually decent enough if you are not a power hungry PC user. I mean don’t expect to do any sort of video editing on this baby but its good for web browsing and checking email.

In fact checking email and web surfing is what this is set out to do out the box. With the enlightenment desktop environment they make things very simple and easy. The green wallpaper is serene and calming. The included applications dock which looks similar to the OS X dock is pretty to look at. However it isn’t really an application dock its more of a link dock for your web applications. Once you click on a link it will open up your Firefox web browser for you to sign on and check your email or look though wikipedia. The very goal is to be a simple and affordable computer for anyone to use. Does it accomplish that task? I feel it does. Let me stress to you that this would make a great computer for a young student or even and older less computer literate adult. The downside is many people will feel stuck when it comes to support and expandability. The lack of support for Linux will probably drive most people away. Some people might feel hey I have an iPhone how do I get my music on this. Well the truth is you would have problems getting music on your iPhone if you can at all. Then when they get fed up and frustrated and will go out and find a copy of Windows to though on it. But in all fairness this is still in Beta and more support can be expected.

I say don’t give up that easily and put windows on it. For one you wont have any spyware of virus problems on Linux because not too many exploits have been created for it. Keep it as a backup computer and use it only to surf the web safely. If you must have windows there are options. Such as creating partitions and dual booting both operating systems. Or just using this one since it is inexpensive as a second computer for the internet.

gOS HD Screen Capture from Encript on Vimeo.